RichC
Well-known
The Techart LM-EA9 adapter allows Leica M lenses to be used on Sony E cameras like the A7 and A7R. The twist is that it turns manual lenses into autofocus lenses! There's also a version for Nikon Z cameras: the TZM-02.
The adapter has the same kind of electric motors as autofocus lenses, and works by using the camera's inbuilt focus detection to move the adapter and hence the lens backwards or forwards. As it uses the camera's focusing, you have access to all its features (like pet eye recognition if that's your thing!). It draws its power from the camera.
The adapter needs to know the lens focal length before it can be used, and its settings are input by a clever system using the camera's f-stop values (select the appropriate f-stop for the focal length, and confirm the setting by pressing the shutter). After updating the adapter settings, set the camera's f-stop to f/2. You only need to do this once, unless changing to a longer or shorter focal length lens. Remember to use the lens ring to change aperture!
As Leica lenses have a small flange to film/sensor distance, adding a manual adapter to the front of the LM-EA9 adapter allows many other manual lens makes to be used with autofocus, e.g. Nikon F to Leica M for Nikon AI-S lenses.
It's not cheap. If you buy direct from China, you can get it for about £250 (which is what I did using Aliexpress), otherwise it's more like £350.
Lastly, the current version is the LM-EA9. The older LM-EA7 version from around 2016 works similarly but is bulkier and cruder (there's a couple of decade-old posts on RFF on it).
So, that's what it is. What do I think of it? It's brilliant, and money well spent! Don't expect it to focus like a modern autofocus lens that can lock on and follow a gnat's arse at 50m! It's more like autofocus from the 1990s - a little slow, and not keen on fast-moving or multiple subjects. But it is very accurate. I'm more than happy with its performance.
You can hear the motors in use, but they are not noisy (I've noisier lenses - albeit from the 1990s). I haven't noticed the camera battery draining faster.
Here's a very thorough review from someone else if you want to know more: Review: Techart LM-EA9 Leica-M to Sony-E Autofocus Adapter - phillipreeve.net
Lastly, here's the adapter on my Sony A7CR with a Zeiss Sonnar. (Note: If you're curious about the skull, I'm not a fan of logos and branding on my stuff - if a company wants me to be an advert, they can pay me!)
The adapter has the same kind of electric motors as autofocus lenses, and works by using the camera's inbuilt focus detection to move the adapter and hence the lens backwards or forwards. As it uses the camera's focusing, you have access to all its features (like pet eye recognition if that's your thing!). It draws its power from the camera.
The adapter needs to know the lens focal length before it can be used, and its settings are input by a clever system using the camera's f-stop values (select the appropriate f-stop for the focal length, and confirm the setting by pressing the shutter). After updating the adapter settings, set the camera's f-stop to f/2. You only need to do this once, unless changing to a longer or shorter focal length lens. Remember to use the lens ring to change aperture!
As Leica lenses have a small flange to film/sensor distance, adding a manual adapter to the front of the LM-EA9 adapter allows many other manual lens makes to be used with autofocus, e.g. Nikon F to Leica M for Nikon AI-S lenses.
It's not cheap. If you buy direct from China, you can get it for about £250 (which is what I did using Aliexpress), otherwise it's more like £350.
Lastly, the current version is the LM-EA9. The older LM-EA7 version from around 2016 works similarly but is bulkier and cruder (there's a couple of decade-old posts on RFF on it).
So, that's what it is. What do I think of it? It's brilliant, and money well spent! Don't expect it to focus like a modern autofocus lens that can lock on and follow a gnat's arse at 50m! It's more like autofocus from the 1990s - a little slow, and not keen on fast-moving or multiple subjects. But it is very accurate. I'm more than happy with its performance.
You can hear the motors in use, but they are not noisy (I've noisier lenses - albeit from the 1990s). I haven't noticed the camera battery draining faster.
Here's a very thorough review from someone else if you want to know more: Review: Techart LM-EA9 Leica-M to Sony-E Autofocus Adapter - phillipreeve.net
Lastly, here's the adapter on my Sony A7CR with a Zeiss Sonnar. (Note: If you're curious about the skull, I'm not a fan of logos and branding on my stuff - if a company wants me to be an advert, they can pay me!)
Last edited:
